First dose COVID-19 vaccination done! Long way to go

On 31st July, in the evening, a message with certain keywords caught my immediate attention. The words “temujanji” (appointment) and “vaksinasi” (vaccination) demanded prompt action. Hastily, I opened up the app, and found out that I have been given an appointment date for my first dose of Covid-19 vaccination. This is part of the Malaysia National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme and the registration for vaccination opened up in February. As I am not officially attached to any company (besides my university), I understand that getting a vaccination appointment will be a long process. The daily Covid-19 cases here are demoralising and demotivating. Especially after sitting at home for the prolonged lockdown since May. So when I received the appointment, it was full of joy and relief.

Getting all the talk and advice from those who have vaccinated (my mum and relatives), I stocked up food and snacks accordingly. They also asked me not to carry out “BIG workout” days before the vaccination. Well, they call my Bodypump barbell workout the “BIG workout”. Food wise, I kept bread, yogurt and milk in the fridge. I also bought some 100 plus and juices.

I did a slow jog a few days before the vaccination day and then… stopped since. Vaccination gives you a valid reason to slack off from your triceps and core muscle tortures.

My vaccination was on 8th August, at 730 p.m. which I later found out that it was the last batch of appointment for the day as the vaccination center closes daily at 8pm. My vaccination center was a convention hall, well organized and thanks to the time slot, not crowded and no queue needed. I had an early dinner before going as I was worried about the waiting time. Turned out, I was over-worried.

The whole process involved multiple times of showing your identity card and also your vaccination appointment proof. Multiple check-points but all things went smoothly. Whole vaccination process, from entering till exiting the hall, took me 25 minutes in total (including 15 minutes of observation time after vaccination). The venue was actually 5 minutes away from me, so before I realised any difference (physically and mentally), I was already home.

I did feel mild pain on my vaccinated arm and my Daiso ice pack came to rescue.